Binder.



PATENTBD JULY 30, 1907.

I. HAGER.

v BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAK- 1 190'!- lNl/E/VTOR ATTORNEKS.

WITNESSES.

THE NORRIS PETERS cm. wAsnlNaroN;D c.

FREDERICK HAGER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed a c 1, 1907. Serial No. 359,985.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HAGER, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binders, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in spring-back looseleaf binders, and it primarily has for its object to provide a device of this character of a very simple and effective construction which can be easily and cheaply manufactured, and

which will readily and effectively serve its intended purposes.

Generically, my invention comprises a spring metal back adapted to be held within the binding back of the binder and normally tending to close the members tightly against the leaves to hold them in the book. Means are also provided within the spring back for expan ding the same to permit the insertion or withdrawal of leaves, as may be desired. Means are provided for retaining the expander Within the spring back and means for operating the expander from the outside of the expander.

In its more subordinate features of construction my invention comprises certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1; is a perspective view of my invention complete. Fig. 2, is a central longitudinal section of the binding back. Fig. 3, is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the flexible back expanded to permit insertion or withdrawal of the leaves. Fig. 4, is a similar view, the back being in its normal locking position. Fig. 5, is a cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 2, the parts being shown in the same relative position as in Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the expander. Fig. 7, is a perspective view of a modified form of spring back. Fig. 8, is a detail perspective view of a leaf adapted to be used with either form of my invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like letters and numbers of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures l designates the binder which comprises the leaves 1 and back 1 within which the spring metal back 2, which forms the essential part of my invention, is retained. The back 2 consists of a sheet metal trough-shaped member 2 bent into an approximately U-shape, in cross section and having its edges 2 bent inwardly to form a gripping portion for the leaves 1. The springiness of the material of the back 2 serves to hold the edges 2 near together, it being understood that the member 2 fits snugly within the flexible back portion 1 of the cover to which it may be I tions, as will be more clearly explained hereafter.

secured in any desired manner. The spring back 2 has stamped fingers 2 at intervals, the several fingers 2 on each side of the member 2 being in longitudinal alinement as shown.

2 designates a series of slots adjacent the ends of the member 2 in order to weaken the same at such places so as to reduce the stiffness of the material and hence reduce the sluggishness of its bending at the ends since the expander 4 is usually of less length than the memher 2.

The expander 4 consists of a pair of metallic strips 4 hingedly secured together as at 4 in any approved manner. Beneath the strips 4 is a bar 4 which carries the studs 4 which pass between the adjacent ends of the strips 4 and prevent them being folded too closely together when not performing their expanding func- Centrally, the bar 4 has a tapped aperture to cooperate with an adjusting screw 4 which projects through a cutaway portion between the strips 4 and is provided with a fixed annular portion 4 to abut the member 2. The

screw 4 also has a key engaging shank 4 which projects through the aperture inthe back member 2 and also an aperture in the back 1 so as to be readily engageable by a key (see dotted lines Fig. 2) by means of which the screw may be turned to push the bar 4 toward or from the mouth of the trough-like member 2. The strips 4 abut the stamped fingers 2 which form a bearing therefor.

When the screw 4 is turned in one direction the plate or bar 4 is forced toward the mouth of the member 2 to expand such member and permit the insertion of the leaves of the book (or withdrawal thereof as the 'case may be) and when the screw is turned in the oppo site direction, the tension on the plate 4 is released and -the resilient member 2 assumes its normal clasping position, the clasping being regulated by the degree to which the screw 4 is turned.

A leather or other suitable pocket or lining member 5-5 is provided in connection with the binder to rest inside of the member 2 over the expander 4, to protect the leaves'from the operating mechanism, and when desired the member 2 may be provided with pins 2 (see Fig. 7) to pass through apertures 23 in the leaves (see Fig. 8). Ears 2 may be also provided to serve as rivets, as it were, to secure the pocket 5 at the ends of the member 2.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and numerous. advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

What I claim is 1. A binder combining a spring metal trough shaped back to receive the leaves with an expander held therein, said expander comprising sections hingedly secured together, substantially as shown and described.

2. A binder combining a spring metal trough shaped back, to receive the leaves with a sectional expander held therein, together with means forming a part of the expander for operating the same, substantially as shown and described.

2' A binder combining a spring metal trough shaped back to receive the leaves, with a sectional expander held therein, together with means forming a part of the expander for operating the same, and means forming a part of the spring metal back for retaining the expander, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a binder, a flexible back and cover secured thereto, combined with a spring metal trough shaped member held in said flexible back to retain leaves, together with a sectional expander held in said trough shaped member to expand the same to release the leaves, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a binder, a flexible back and covers secured thereto, combined with'a spring metal trough-shaped member held in said flexible back to contain leaves together with an ex pander held in said trough shaped member to expand the same to release the leaves, and means operable from the outside of the flexible back for controlling the action of the expander, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a binder, a trough-shaped member having means for normally'holding the same contracted to grasp the leaves, combined with a sectional expander held within said trough shaped member to expand the same at times, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a binder, a trough-shaped member having means for normally holding the same contracted to grasp the leaves, combined with a sectional expander held within said trough shaped member and means for retaining the expander within the trough-shaped member, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a binder, a trough-shaped member having means for normally holding the same contracted to grasp the leaves, combined with an expander held within said troughshaped member, means for retaining the expander within the trouglrshaped member, said expander-being of less length than the trough-shaped member, and means for weakening the end portions of the trough-shaped member that project beyond the ends of the expander, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a binder, a trough-shaped member having means for normally holding the same contracted to grasp the leaves, combined with an expander held within said troughshaped member, said expander being of less length than the trough shaped member, means for weakening the end portions of the trough-shaped member that project beyond the ends of the expander, and means carried by the troughshaped member for interlocking with the leaves, substan' tially as shown and described.

10. In a loose-leaf binder, a spring metal trough-shaped member normally held contracted to grasp the leaves, cont bined with an expander held within the trough-shaped member to expand the same, said expander comprising a pair of hinged bars, means carried by the trough-shaped member forming stops for the hinged bars, and means for forcing the hinged bars toward said stops to expand the troughshaped member, substantially as shown and described.

11. In a loose-leaf binder, a spring metal trough-shaped member normally held contracted to grasp the leaves, combined with an expander held within the trough-shaped member to expand the same, said expander comprising a pair of hinged bars, means carried by the troughshaped member forming stops for the hinged bars, means for forcing the hinged bars toward said stops to expand the trouglr shaped member, said last named means comprising a plate secured beneath the hinged bars and a screw projecting through said plate and having a portion to engage said spring metal back, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a loose-leaf binder, a spring metal trough-shaped member normally held contracted to grasp the leaves, com bined with an expander held within the trough-shaped member to expand the same, said expander comprising a pair of hinged bars, means carried by the trough-shaped member forming stops for the hinged bars, means for forcing the hinged bars toward said stops to expand the trough-shaped member, said last named means comprising a plate secured beneath the hinged bars and a screw projecting through said plate and having a portion to engage said spring metal back, and means carried 'by said plate and held between said hinged bars for limiting their movement toward one another, substantially as shown and described.

13. A binder comprising aspring metal trough shaped back to receive the leaves withan expander held therein, said expander comprising a pair of strips hingedly secured together along one edge, and means for moving the other edges ofthe expander strips apart, substantially as shown and described.

14. A binder comprising a spring metal trough shaped back to receive the leaves with an expander held therein, said expander comprising a pair of strips hingedly secured together, a bar to which said strips are connected, means carried by the trough shaped back for engaging the strips, and means for forcing said strips toward said engaging means, substantially as shown and described.

15. A hinder combining a spring metal trough shaped back to receive the leaves, with an expander held therein, said expander comprising a plurality of. members hingedly secured together, a bar for engaging said members, and means cooperatively connecting the expander with the spring metal back for expanding the expander substantially as shown and described.

FREDERICK HAGER.

Witnesses WM. DAVIS, A. '1. Lewis. 

